The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
Ep 142: Living the Sutras with Kelly DiNardo
Description:
The Yoga Sutras are an essential framework in yoga, but the reality is that it can be difficult to incorporate the sutras into our teachings, our own practice of yoga, or even into our own lives. Kelly DiNardo has some practical strategies to help us apply the teachings of the sutras to our modern lives.
Kelly DiNardo is the owner of Past Tense Yoga Studio opened in 2009, host of the Living It Podcast, which focuses on the realities of living your yoga practice, author of several books, and freelance journalist who contributes to various popular publications. Her most recent book, co-authored with Amy Pearce-Hayden, Living the Sutras: A Guide to Yoga Wisdom beyond the Mat aims to make the other aspects of yoga as approachable and accessible as the asana is today.
To many of us, the sutras can seem intimidating and inaccessible, but Kelly’s book presents them in a way that is engaging and easy to understand. Kelly shares what sparked her interest in the sutrats, and her inspiration to write the book. She also provides some insights into how best to translate the ancient wisdom found in the sutras into something accessible and relevant to today’s world, and how to cultivate the mindsets, habits and practices needed to live a joyful and purposeful life.
If you’ve ever wondered how to bring more of yoga philosophy into your life, or wanted a more practical application of the sutras, this episode is a great starting point.
Key Takeaways:
[5:38] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Kelly DiNardo
[6:39] Kelly has been a yoga studio owner for 10 years! What got her into yoga in the first place?
[8:12] When did Kelly's interest in the sutras develop?
[9:43] Kelly shares more about her inspiration and experience with writing Living the Sutras: A Guide to Yoga Wisdom beyond the Mat.
[10:47] Shannon and Kelly discuss how her book is presented in a way that makes the sutras easy to understand.
[12:18] What are the sutras?
[15:04] Yoga is a work in, not just a workout. What has Kelly's experience been in people not wanting to work on themselves?
[18:00] Kelly's book is divided into three books. She explains the different sections and what they represent.
[21:20] Kelly shares the insight that you can work all of the practices of the eight limbs at the same time.
[23:22] What does Kelly mean when she says "everything is yoga"?
[26:44] What message is Kelly trying to convey to yoga teachers and yoga practitioners?
[28:15] Kelly has a list of resources that she has included in her book.
[28:50] What are Kelly's thoughts on the Sanskrit?
[32:12] Shannon and Kelly discuss why it is okay to admit when you don't know or struggle with things.
[33:10] Kelly talks about some of her experiences in the process of writing the book.
[34:54] How have the sutras informed how Kelly runs her yoga studio and her yoga business?
[38:41] What are some tips and tricks Kelly would share with yoga teachers who are thinking about opening a yoga studio?
[42:06] Kelly shares some insight for people who are struggling with marketing and selling in their yoga business because it feels against all the yoga principles.
[46:04] Kelly is doing a card deck as a supplement to the book.
[47:13] What kind of feedback has Kelly received on her book?
[49:54] What is Kelly's advice for people who want to write and publish articles?
[52:36] Get in touch with Kelly via her website, check out her podcast and connect with her on social media.
[53:38] How are you living your yoga? Shannon would love to hear from you!
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity and Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training.
Quotes from this episode:
"If we're living our practice off the mat, then yoga is everywhere for us."
"Yoga is both the goal, the means and the end."
"One of those limbs is our asana, or physical practice, but what I find really interesting is that it's actually less than 2% of the yoga sutras."
"What happens on the mat is a reflection of what's happening off the mat."
"There is an opportunity for yoga or a yoga mindset in every moment."
"You can do yoga and never do asana. Or you could do asana and never do yoga."
"I think understanding the language is an opportunity to go deeper into the practice."
"So few of us think about our breath until there's something wrong with it."
"I think it's important to have a business / professional mindset if you're going to run a studio and I don't think there's any shame in that."
"You physically cannot do what you do if you are not making an actual living."